Significant Life Events and Coping

This report discusses the impact of significant life events on individuals, focusing on a case study of Maria who has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. It analyzes the impact on Maria, her husband John, and her wider social network. Additionally, it identifies and analyzes three coping strategies that John can use to deal with Maria's diagnosis.

Significant Life Events
and Coping

Table of Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Case study overview...............................................................................................................3
Using one appropriate theory, analyse how Maria’s diagnosis may impact upon her, John and
her wider social network........................................................................................................3
Identify and analyse 3 coping strategies which John may use to cope with Maria’s diagnosis
................................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Significant life events are determined as those situations or moments which has brought
major changes in individual’s life. This might be related to any one such as family members,
marriage, conditions or issues at workplace, injury, relationship issues, illness etc. All of these
life events not only bring changes in the present life situations of individuals but at the same time
it places major impact over their forth coming life too (Undheim and Sund, 2017). The present
report is based on the life story of Maria whose doctors has declared that she has advanced lung
cancer which cannot be treated and also recommended her to move to palliative care team. This
report will include detailed information on Maria’s diagnosis and its impact over her Husband
and wider social network. Furthermore, 3 copying strategies will be identified and analysed that
would be support John in dealing with Maria’s diagnosis.
Case study overview
Present case is about Maria, a year old women married with John 10 years back and have 2
sons together. Recently doctors have declared Maria that she is suffering from advanced Lung
cancer that cannot be treated with medicine or any other treatment. All of this was confirmed by
going through range of tests which has confirmed disease of lung cancer. Afterwards doctors has
also advised to Maria to move to palliative care team who will take care of her in end of life time
in best possible manner. The overall things happened in so frequent manner which developed
situation of significant life event for Maria as well as her family, friends and close relative.
Doctor’s report has changed whole life of Maria and her family as this has brought sudden
drastic change in their life
Using one appropriate theory, analyse how Maria’s diagnosis may impact upon her, John and her
wider social network.
Maria’s diagnosis has placed major influential impact over John, sons, close relatives and other
friends at vast level. Sudden diagnosed disease has developed kind of trauma for them as they
have never expected this kind of situation in their life. Impact of this situation was quite difficult
for them all (Li and et. al., 2016). For instance, it is different for Maria, different for Husband,
two sons, friends, close relatives etc. While looking towards the impact of advanced lung cancer
diagnosed for Maria, it can be said that this is first time traumatic life event for Maria as she has

never expected this kind of situation in her life. The respected lady was living good life with
beloved husband and two sons. She was living in her golden time period of life where she was
enjoying each and every moment. Due to sudden fall in health situation Maria has gone through
series of tests there consultant has declared advanced lung cancer to her. That very moment
whole planning about future life, children, their career, own parent’s husband and associated
thoughts has started rotating in her mind. This placed situation of fearing of losing her own life
and family members has hearted her a lot. Maria become so much afraid about her health
condition and is tensed about the future of kids and husband. Also, the lady was feeling helpless
as she has no option to get treated (Lyons, Huebner and Hills, 2016). This has directly developed
depression as well as psychological upset among this Maria. Apart from this, the lady is also
depressed about palliative care as she would feel uncomfortable away from her family.
On the other hand, while looking towards the impact of advanced lung cancer over John
as the significant life event it can be said that it might place affect thinking capability of John as
he sudden knowing of this will directly develop create tension about Maria’s health condition. In
addition to this, it will also develop concern of his own future also the future of the children as
well because it’s difficult for the managing whole things at own level without the support of
Maria. John might also feel worried about the treatment which will going to be provided to
Maria from palliative care team (Polanco-Roman, Danies and Anglin, 2016). Along with this, it
would be difficult for John to accept his life situation that how his family stucked into this
situation and does not have any kind of alternate option to deal with it. Apart from this, John
might also get affected due to financial trouble which means that there are probable chances that
John might not have huge financial back up towards this situation it would be difficult for him to
manage overall situation in terms finances. This is so because, when Maria will be handed over
to Palliative care then it would be definitely require huge amount of money in order to provide
best possible treatment to Maria in her last days (Pottinger, Nelson and McKenzie, 2016). The
overall tension would directly place major impact over physical impairment, psychological state,
and social relationship of John. The main reason behind this was that it would be difficult for this
person to manage all things at own level alone and also take care of two children.
Impact of Maria’s diagnosis on other social networks can be seen in many forms. Here, wider
social networks are friends, close relatives and society. While emphasising on the major
influence of this significant life event on friends, it can be said that her friends would be shocked

to know about her friend’s condition. Along with this, there are higher chances that friends of
Maria will also go for their own medical check in order to check out whether they are living their
life safely or not. In addition to friends of Maria will also feel depressed and might get worried
about the family, children and husband of their friend as after her death they will suffer a lot and
become emotionally weak (Park, Chang and You, 2015). On the other hand, at the time of
emphasising on the impact of Maria’s death on society, it can be said that significant will directly
develop awareness of the society about the advanced lung cancer and its non treatable situation.
Society will defiantly get advanced level of knowledge towards the same and will also prepare
all individuals in terms of financial state too because if they will face same kind of situation in
the future then they will definitely not feel issues related to the finances. Apart from this, the
present significant life event will also aware society about this specific disease and other
associated diseases that might take place in their family (Shrestha, 2015). As a result, there
would be higher chances that society will start prioritising their own health and taking regular
based check up from their nearby hospital so that any kind of major disease can be detected at
the initial level only. This will definitely provide required time to the suspected person and also
help them out in handling this health issue and get recovered in the sooner manner (Siegel and
Belcher, 2015). Away with this, with this the society might also take this significant life event as
the lesson from which they can learn a lot. Also, they might also take some initiative to support
John as well as his family so that they get recovered from this traumatic situation. In addition to
this, society can also provide financial support to John so that this situation could get handled at
least at this level.
Identify and analyse 3 coping strategies which John may use to cope with Maria’s diagnosis
Maria is suffering from advanced lung cancer and is acknowledged not to be responding
to any of the treatments and medicines. This is why her consultant referred her to palliative care
team whereby she would be properly given care and medical treatment as per the requirements of
her body (Fornés-Vives and et. al., 2016). In this relation, her spouse, John has an important role
to play. Family members of patients having severe illness need to ensure that none of their
actions lead to worsening of the patient’s condition. Further, they need to create an atmosphere
whereby the patient feels positive all the time and does not give hopes upon life. With respect to
this, it can be analysed that John can adopt a number of coping strategies in order to ensure that

he does his part well in curing the illness of Maria. In this regard, three of the most crucial
strategies that can be implemented by John are discussed in a brief manner as underneath:-
Maintaining open communication:
Being the health care agent for Maria, it is important for John to have open
communication with her. Having interaction with the patient would allow him to gain knowledge
of the mental state that she is going by. Also, when the family member has an open
communication with the patient who is submitted to palliative care team, it instils a sense of trust
and belief within the patient towards that family member (Sladek and Eisenberg, et. al., 2016).
Communicating with Maria would allow John to comprehend the actual state of mind of Maria
and the pain she undergoes every single day while getting the treatment. Advanced lung cancer is
a severe disease which requires proper treatment and care given to the patient. If in this journey,
the patient is accompanied with the support and care given by a close family member, the patient
automatically starts feeling better. This happens because of the homely feeling that they develop
even with the palliative care team. Thus, facilitating communication with Maria would serve as a
crucial coping strategy for John.
Maintain a “normal” life for the patient:
The biggest mistake many a times done by the family members of the patients undergoing severe
illness is to create an atmosphere whereby the individual starts feeling that he or she has some
major issue. Instead, it is important for the family members to create a normal life for patients
whereby the suffering person do not feel like a burden on the family. Thus, this coping strategy
can be leveraged by John with a view to ensure that Maria does not feel uncomfortable with life
at any point of time (Ng and Zainal, et. al., 2017). Such patients need to be provided with a
positive atmosphere which do not tempts them to die. Thus, John can take all the measures
through which Maria feels happy about her life.
Developing a care plan in consultation with the doctor:
This can serve to be another effective coping strategy that can be adopted by the family
members of patients undergoing severe illness. Hereby, the family members can arrange meeting
with the doctor of patient and get a care plan developed through which family members can give
their contribution towards making better the condition of patient (Dardas and Ahmad, 2015). In
this regard, Maria has advanced lung cancer which is regarded as severe illness that takes time to
be treated. Thus, it is important for John to develop a care plan by consulting her doctor which

would be followed by him at all the times to provide effective care and treatment to her. This
way, John would be able to ensure that he takes all the initiatives on his part to ensure that
Maria's illness get cured in a timely manner.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of overall information specified in the above section, it can be said that
significant life event in every individual is different for all. These kind of event places traumatic
situations in every individuals life. Furthermore, it has been determined that major impact of
these can be seen on the patient itself at the initial level. Also, its further influence can also be
seen on the individual family, friends and close relatives. In addition to this, it has been analysed
that advanced lung cancer is pathetic disease whose chances of recovery are very low. Also, it is
essential for the family and friends to remain calm, provide healthy environment to patient,
provide regular based breaks to patients, practice good sleep hygiene, maintain healthy diet
habits etc. This simply helps patient in recovering sooner.

REFERENCES
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